Compare towns
Danby vs Stratton vs Westminster vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danby | Stratton | Westminster | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
532 |
497Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Stratton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166 36% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.